* AuthorAvatar: As the novel was based on Laurie Anderson's personal experiences of having been raped as a teenager and the trauma she faced, Melinda is naturally this.

* UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming: A self-inflicted example. Part of what hampers Melinda's ability to recover and move on is her refusal to fully acknowledge what happened to her on that fateful night because she blames herself for not being able to see straight away that Andy was taking advantage of her (never mind that she was barely 14 years old at the time and was [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy more than a bit tipsy]] on top of that).

TheProtagonist, a high school freshman who's been branded as a social outcast due to calling the police during a party in the summer where she had been raped.

* NiceGuy: Without a doubt.

* CoolTeacher: She tries to be this but she fails.

* HairDecorations: Wears multiple colored Sharpies in her bun as a reflection of her artistic personality.

* CharacterDevelopment: Over the course of the book, Melinda eventually finds the strength to open up, reveal her dark secret, accept what has happened to her, and is slowly able to recover from her trauma.

* TheQuietOne: After the rape, she became withdrawn and barely speaks to anyone.

* FauxAffablyEvil: He uses his popularity among his fellow students to hide his sinister intentions.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: She wanted to be part of the popular clique, but when she gets her wish, it turns out it wasn't as great as she thought.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: She seems like a friendly person but is really a manipulative backstabber.

* ForeignCultureFetish: Once high school starts, she hangs out with the European exchange students, tries to speak French more (as well as being shown planning out a trip to Paris for summer vacation), and [[spoiler:starts going out with a boy from Portugal after breaking up with Andy]].

* AmbiguousSituation: While the epilogue reveals that Rachel considered calling Melinda up, it is uncertain as to whether or not Melinda would forgive her, let alone on whether or not they can rekindle their friendship.

* BrokenBird: She was once a cheerful and sociable straight-B student before the rape. Afterward, she becomes withdrawn and miserable, her academic performance suffering as a result.

Melinda's rapist, a jock at Merryweather High.

* BigBad: The only real evil person in the setting.

* KarmaHoudini: Somewhat. While at most he gets a slap on the wrist (and no jail time) for what he had done to Melinda as well as to other girls, he is still made to register as a sex offender so he didn't get off completely unscathed.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Sported a SlasherSmile while raping Melinda at the party.
* SerialRapist: The BathroomStallGraffiti in the girls' restroom reveals that Melinda wasn't Andy's first victim, nor would she be the last.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Disappeared in the final chapter of the novel most likely as a result of hiding out due to the embarrassment she received for her bad job at the prom decorations.

* AmbiguousSituation: While Rachel considers calling Melinda up, it is uncertain as to whether or not Melinda would forgive her, let alone on whether or not they can rekindle their friendship.

* ForeignCultureFetish: Once high school starts, she hangs out with the European exchange students, tries to speak French more, and [[spoiler:starts going out with a boy from Portugal after breaking up with Andy]].

* ImpliedLoveInterest: Vaguely implied. It's more prominent in the book, with [[ShipTease a few cute moments]] on Valentine's Day and a mention that David watches her when he thinks she doesn't notice. For rather understandable reasons, though, it never really goes anywhere.

A group of girls (named Meg, Emily, and Siobhan) at Melinda's school that follow everything Martha Stewart related.

* HippieTeacher: This is more apparent in the movie but the way he makes teaches his class makes him this.

Melinda's parents

* AmbiguousSituation: It's not clear exactly what her relationship with Melinda was before the fateful party, especially since she wasn't there when Melinda called the police, as it's not spelled out if she was avoiding Melinda because she's unpopular or if they were friends and drifted apart. Given the friendly nature that she has with Melinda later on, it's possibly the former.

* TrueCompanions: Later in the story, when she and Melinda begin genuinely rebuilding their friendship, especially in comparison to Melinda's relationships with Rachel and Heather.

TheProtagonist, a high school freshman who's been branded as a social outcast after she called the police during a party in the summer.

* VillainousBreakdown: Angrily confronts Melinda in the janitor's room and attempts to rape her again out of revenge for ruining his reputation.

* FalseFriend: Initially began as Melinda's only friend due to being the new girl at school (and thus, having no knowledge of the police call Melinda made), but she had bigger aspirations. When the chance to become one of the more popular girls reared its head, she jumps at the chance and severs her ties with Melinda.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Disappeared in the final chapter of the novel most likely as a result of hiding out due to the embarrassment she received for her subpar decorations.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: She has this when she realizes that Melinda was telling the truth when Andy tries to harass her at the prom.

* AmbiguousSituation: It's not clear exactly what her relationship with Melinda was before the fateful party, especially since she wasn't at there when Melinda called the police, as it's not spelled out if she was avoiding Melinda because she's unpopular or if they were friends and drifted apart. Given the friendly nature that she has with Melinda later on, it's possibly the former.

* NiceGuy: He's the one of the few people who's actually nice to Melinda from the start despite what happened at the party.

* HippieTeacher: This is more apparent in the movie but the way he makes teaches his class makes him this .

* NotQuiteTheRightThing: She tries to help but isn't really good at it, nor is she capable of helping a student with problems like Melinda's.

* UnnamedParent: Besides their last name, their first names aren't given.

* SelfHarm: Her lip-biting.

* AdultsAreUseless: She cannot really help because she doesn't really understand.

* AwfulWeddedLife: Their marriage isn't a happy one.

The protagonist who was raped at a summer party and left traumatized as a result.

* TheCassandra: When she tries to tell her former friend Rachel about Andy's sinister intentions and Rachel doesn't believe her.

* AboveGoodAndEvil: Has shades of this mentality. In his heated confrontation, Andy tries to claim that all of the other girls he had assaulted and/or harassed were practically asking for it, so therefore, he is not a rapist.

* ForTheEvulz: He clearly enjoys the fear that he instills into Melinda, making it his goal of reminding her about what he had done.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Spouted a SlasherSmile whilst raping Melinda at the party.

* TheSociopath: Is manipulative and charismatic. He values his reputation above all else, and is completely remorseless at the prospect of raping and/or harassing female students.

Melinda's classmate and lab partner who doesn't ostracize her.

* ImpliedLoveInterest: Vaguely implied. It's more prominent in the book, with a few cute moments on Valentine's Day and a mention that David watches her when he thinks she doesn't notice. For rather understandable reasons, though, it never really goes anywhere.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The way Melinda perceives them. Going by their treatment of Heather, she wasn't entirely off the mark, as they appear nice, friendly, and charitable but are actually pretty mean.
* GirlPosse

The protagonist who was raped at a summer party and left traumatized as a result

* BreakTheCutie: After being raped, Melinda's life spirals towards the brink of near destruction.

* CharacterDevelopment: Over the course of the book, Melinda eventually finds the strength to reveal her dark secret, accept what has happened to her, and is slowly able to recover from her trauma.

* WithFriendsLikeThese: Rachel abandoned her after she called the police to the end of summer party. Heather also takes advantage of Melinda's talents in order to get noticed by the popular clique of girls, and ultimately ditches her like a hot potato when she had reached her goal.

* AboveGoodAndEvil: Has shades of this. In his heated confrontation, Andy tries to claim that all of the other girls he had assaulted and/or harassed were practically asking for it, so therefore, he is not a rapist.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Claims that he could get any girl he wants to sleep with him willingly as a feeble attempt at dispelling Melinda's accusations.
* JerkJock: Initially appears as this stereotype, but in this case, is a ''far'' more dark example.
* KarmaHoudini: Somewhat. While at most he gets a slap on the wrist for what he had done to Melinda as well as to other girls, he is still made to register as a sex offender meaning that his life was ruined at that moment.

* SerialRapist: Several entries on the bathroom mirror in the girls' restroom reveal that Melinda wasn't Andy's first victim, nor would she be the last.

* AmbiguousSituation: It's not clear exactly what her relationship with Melinda was, especially since she wasn't at the party when/where Melinda called the police, as it's not spelled out if she was avoiding Melinda because she's unpopular or if they were friends and drifted apart. Given the friendly nature that she has with Melinda later on, it's possibly the former.
* EveryGirlIsCuterWithHairDecs: Wears multicolor Sharpies in her bun as a reflection of her artistic personality.

* AmbiguousSituation: Like Ivy, it isn't really clear as to why she was avoiding Melinda and whether or not because the latter is a social outcast or if she was avoiding her due to being wrapped up in her own life.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The way Melinda perceives them and, as we find from Heather, they are, as they appear nice, friendly, and charitable but are actually pretty mean.

* CoolTeacher:For the most part, he plays this role to Melinda, as he lets her be herself in his class, but, generally, he regards his students as people and so treats them as such.

* AdultsAreUseless: Melinda seems to think so, as they haven't gotten their daughter any help since her rape and Mom thinks that Melinda's behavior are cries for ''attention'', not necessarily ''help'', while Dad sort of gets the idea. However, this is invoked because she hasn't told them what happened (or the full depth of what happened).

* ParentsAsPeople: They do care about their daughter but, due to their cluelessness, they don't really see that Melinda needs help.